RATIONING SCARCE TREATMENTS TO PATIENTS DURING THE COVID-19: SHORT ETHICAL-LEGAL REMARKS ON THE SWISS AND ITALIAN CASES

Resumo

Abstract: This paper aims at critically discussing ethical questions concerning the identification and justification of criteria useful to handle the extraordinary situation hospitals have been facing since the COVID-19 emergency was declared. In order to achieve this goal, the paper compares two guidelines released by the Italian and Swiss medical associations as they represent two different approaches to the problem of rationing and allocating resources when they are very scarce.

Keywords: Resource allocation. Rationing by age. Principle of justice. Ethical guidelines.